Love of Lavender

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Celebrated Sonoma landscape artist at Sonoma Lavender Festival

Meet Barbara Greensweig and see her award-winning paintings of Sonoma, at Sonoma Lavender Festival, June 23 & 24 Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood, CA

Barbara will be showing many originals, as well as prints and greeting cards.

For more about Sonoma Lavender Festival, http://www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html

NEW! Chateau St. Jean shuttle at Lavender Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:23:00 +0000

Sonoma Lavender Festival has expanded to Chateau St. Jean!
Saturday and Sunday June 23 & 24

Now there will be a shuttle between Chateau St. Jean and the Sonoma Lavender Festival, so lavender lovers can enjoy both venues and double their pleasure. There will wine and lavender cusine pairings, as well as celebrity artist Barbara Greensweig painting originals. Peruse a special Sonoma Lavender store in the rose garden. Special Lavender festival wine discounts and a free lavender gift is offered at Chateau St. Jean.

In the Sonoma Lavender Fields, play our new field game, "Passport to Bliss" and get free sachets or bath salts. Free spa treatments under the oak. Live music by Nate Lopez. Lavender Cuisine by Lisa Hemenway of FRESH. Wines by Chateau St. Jean and BR Cohn. Sparkling wine by Rack and Riddle. Lavender Specimen Garden. More...

LAVENDER FIELDS OF AMERICA- book signing and video presentation at 12:30.

In other words, fun, fun, fun. $5 per person. Children under 12 free. Next to Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood. More info:
http://www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Lavender Cuisine with FRESH by Lisa Hemenway

Sat. June 23 and Sun. June 24, Sonoma Lavender Festival

Come meet Chef Lisa Hemenway as she prepares the best lavender cuisine has to offer.

SNACK! Savory lavender nuts, lavender snickerdoodles, lemon lavender cupcakes, delightful strawberry lavender ice cream

DINE! On lavender delicacies such as lavender duck confit, lavender niciouse salad or barbequed lavender salmon.

LAVENDER MARKETPLACE! Take home handmade lavender cheeses, crackers, mustards, rubs, sauces, olives, nuts, cookies.

Meet Chef Lisa Hemenway at Sonoma Lavender Festival June 23 & 24

Lisa Hemenway has been delighting Sonoma County diners with her gourmet flair for almost 30 years. Widely known for her award-winning Lisa Hemenway’s Restaurant in Montgomery Village for almost 20 years and Lisa Henemway’s Bistro in Town & Country Center, she also founded Polka Dots restaurant, and was the original Sous Chef and Pastry Chef for John Ash & Co. In addition to her Sonoma county fame, Lisa launched private dining rooms and restaurants in Vietnam and Singapore for an international organization. Her food-related travels have taken her through France, around the Mediterranean, to Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and New Orleans. She brings inspiration and ingredients from her travels to her original recipes and well-loved favorites.
For more about FRESH, http://www.freshbylisahemenway.com/

Sonoma Lavender Festival June 23 & 24. next to Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood, CA Sonoma Lavender products, free demos and samples, lavender cuisine by FRESH, Wine by Chateau St. Jean, Kunde, Kenwood, BR Cohn, live music by Nate Lopez, Barbara Greensweig Art, Cooking demos by Chef Mary Bergin, Lavender Lounge by Massage Envy and Hello Beautiful, Lavender Crafts, Portraits by Deborah Welsh. For more about Sonoma Lavender Festival, http://www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html

the Lavender Field with Massage Envy

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:51:00 +0000

Massages in the Lavender Field with Massage Envy

Sat. June 23 and Sun. June 24, Sonoma Lavender Festival

A yearly tradition! Enjoy a relaxing massage in the lavender field with Massage Envy of Santa Rosa and Sonoma.

CHILLED LAVENDER NECK PILLOWS! Come to the Lavender Lounge to soothe tense muscles with a chilled neck pillow and spa mask.

CHAIR MASSAGE! Fifteen minutes of bliss in the lavender field. Only $1 per minute, 15 minute minimum
FULL BODY MASSAGE! Fifty minutes massage with Sonoma Lavender Massage Oil resets and energizes your whole body. Only $1 per minute, 30 and 50 minutes.

Try a Lavender Massage at Sonoma Lavender Festival June 23 and 24
Massage Envy- Sonoma 452 First St. E. Sonoma, Sonoma, CA 95476 (707) 938-7404
Massage Envy- Santa Rosa 5761 Mountain Hawk Hwy. Suite #103, Santa Rosa, CA 95409 (707) 537-0555
For more about Sonoma Lavender Festival, http://www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html

Portraits in the Lavender Field

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Portraits in the Lavender Field with Deborah Welsh

Sat. June 23 and Sun. June 24, Sonoma Lavender Festival, Kenwood, California

Come meet photographer Deborah Welsh as she takes your portrait in the lavender field.

KIDS! COUPLES! FAMILIES! INDIVIDUAL HEAD SHOTS! $35

Make your appointment for June 23 or 24, today! Dwelsh1@aol.com 415-509-3438 415-509-3438

Deborah Welsh specializes in product and people photography, out of her unique photography studio under the Bay Bridge in the San Francisco SOMA. Deborah offers business and model headshots, as well as model composite cards. On location, business and party events are a specialty. Deborah also shoots exteriors and interiors for real estate companies. Clients include: General Motors, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, UGL Equis Corp., Sonoma Lavender, Apple/BMW, S.F.Opera, KQED, S.F. Chronicle, Armorall, Macys, Levi Strauss For more information about Deborah Welsh Photography, http://www.deborahwelsh.com
Sonoma Lavender Festival June 23 & 24. next to Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood, CA Sonoma Lavender products, free demos and samples, lavender cuisine by FRESH, Wine by Chateau St. Jean, Kunde, Kenwood, BR Cohn, live music by Nate Lopez, Barbara Greensweig Art, Cooking demos by Chef Mary Bergin, Lavender Lounge by Massage Envy and Hello Beautiful, Lavender Crafts, Portraits by Deborah Welsh. For more about Sonoma Lavender Festival, http://www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:21:00 +0000

Cooking with Lavender with Chef Mary Bergin

Sat. June 23 and Sun. June 24, Sonoma Lavender Festival

Come meet Chef Mary Bergin as she demonstrates how to use the exquisite lavender herb in cooking.

EXPLORE! Lavender’s fresh flavor goes savory or sweet. Try lavender rubs on fish, chicken and meat. Or add a delicate flavor to crème brulee, ice cream and shortbread.

LEARN! How easy it is to add the exotic taste of lavender to your cooking for rave reviews. Recipe handouts at demo!

TASTE! Chef Mary Bergin will prepare and serve tastes of lavender delicacies to try at home. Mary’s own lavender culinary products will be available for purchase.

Meet Chef Mary Bergin at Sonoma Lavender Festival June 23 and 24

Mary's star studded career began with Wolfgang Puck in 1982 at the original Spago Restaurant. Her innovative creations have been praised by customers, Hollywood stars, food magazines and fellow chefs. The James Beard Foundation invited Mary to create her imaginative cuisine for 1,500 guests at the Annual James Beard Foundation Awards honoring Julia Child. Mary was a frequent guest chef on Julia Child's Baking with Julia PBS television series and a contributor to the cookbook, Baking with Julia.

Mary has written two cookbooks with Judy Gethers, Spago Desserts and Spago Chocolate. Spago Chocolate was chosen "Best Cookbook of the Year." Her recipes are featured in Bon Appetit, Cook's Illustrated Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, TV Guide's Celebrity Dish, The New York Times, Chef Magazine, to name a few. She has been a guest on Good Morning America, Television Food Network, In Food Today and a host of other acclaimed television shows. Mary has prepared food for two presidents.

Chef Mary Bergin’s business includes Cooking Lesson Parties and Private Chef Lessons.For more information about Chef Mary’s Cooking Lessons, http://www.chefmarybergin.com/lessons.html

For more about Sonoma Lavender Festival, http://www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html

FEELING ANXIOUS? TRY LAVENDER.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Sometimes things just don’t seem to go your way, leaving you with angry, anxious feelings. Now a study from the University of Tsukuba in Japan concludes that lavender can significantly change those feelings of conflict and anxiety.

Lavender oil produced significant anti-conflict effects in the Geller conflict test and in the Vogel conflict test, suggesting that the oil has an anti-anxiety effect. Linalool, a major constituent of lavender oil, produced significant anti-conflict effects in the Geller and Vogel tests, findings similar to those of lavender oil, thus identifying linalool as the major pharmacologically active constituent involved in the anti-anxiety effect of lavender oil.

National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0053, Japan College of Nursing and Medical Technology, University of Tsukuba, Japan 14 December 2006. SCIENCEDIRECT.COM

Sonoma Lavender recommendations for products to reduce feelings of conflict and anxiety:

Lavender Candles or Lavender Diffuser

Lavender sachets tucked in the car, purse, briefcase.

Lavender lotion, shower gel, oil.

DRY SKIN BLUES

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

About this time of year my legs start looking like snake skin before molting... really. I never understood why lotion doesn't really help, until my esthetician friend, explained it to me. You need to get rid of the old skin, before lotion can make any difference. Oh, so that's what our Lavender salt scrub is for. :-) Try this next time you need to molt and you will be amazed by the results. Scrub your dry skin with lavender salt scrub until it is fresh and pink. Rinse off and apply lavender lotion. Your skin will look five years younger, no kidding.

LAVENDER FOR DOGS

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:02:00 +0000

We went to Florida for the holidays and left our dog, Max with our trusted dog sitter. A few days into the holiday she called me and said Max was scratching and biting a raw spot on his inner leg and seemed to be very agitated. . Missing his Mom, I was sure! We'd faced this problem before. Max is a scratcher if he gets nervous, or their are weeds and pollens that set his skin crawling. I asked her to apply lavender essential oil straight on the raw spot and around it.

Lavender essential oil does mulitple duty in this case:
1. Heals the broken skin.
2. Soothe itchy skin.
3. Soothe nervous, agitated feelings.
4. Repel any insects, fleas, ticks, etc.
5. The strong pungent taste of lavender oil prevents further licking and biting.

Later that day, our dog sitter reported that Max had left the spot alone, and by the time we returned the spot had healed.

Makes me wonder if we should launch a line of pet products!

For the Love of Lavender, Rebecca

Lavender oil improves a feeling of well being.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:53:00 +0000

Ever hear of dopamine? Dopamine is a chemical compound released in the brain in response to positive experiences such as food, sex, friendship, drugs, which gives one a feeling of reward and well being. Lavender has proven to affect dopamine release, creating that positive feeling.

The results indicate that altered dopamine D3 receptor subtype homeostasis in the olfactory bulb may contribute to lavender oil-induced behavioral change.

Keimyung University^{, a}Department of Public Health, Keimyung University, Taegu 704-701, Republic of Korea, 26 June 2009.

Sonoma Lavender product recommendations for well being:

Elevate your mood with Sonoma Lavender spray mist. Helps cranky kids, too.

Travel with lavender-filled travel pillow, sleep mask or accessories.

Heat or chill a lavender neck pillow.

Give yourself a handmassage with lavender hand creme.

The ambient odor of lavender reduces anxiety and improves mood.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:41:00 +0000

A recent medical study proved that lavender reduces anxiety and improves one’s mood. Heady findings. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of lavender on anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness in dental patients. Two hundred patients between the ages of 18 and 77 years (half women, half men) were assigned to four independent groups. Patients were stimulated with the ambient odor of lavender. These conditions were compared to a music condition and a control condition (no odor, no music).

Anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness were assessed while patients waited for dental treatment. Statistical analyses revealed that compared to control condition lavender reduced anxiety and improved mood in patients waiting for dental treatment. These findings support the previous opinion that odors are capable of altering emotional states and may indicate that the use of odors is helpful in reducing anxiety in dental patients.
J. Lehrner^a^,, G. Marwinski^c, S. Lehr^b, PJohren^d and L. Deecke^a ^aUniversity Clinic of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Department of Medical Statistics, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, University Witten Herdecke,

Germany

10 August 2005.
For more information, go to SCIENCEDIRECT.COM

Recommended Sonoma Lavender products to reduce anxiety and improve mood:

Lavender Eye Pillow or Sleepmask: Relax with a lavender eye pillow or sleepmask.. The aromatherapy of the lavender relaxes while you shut out the light and relax your eyes.

Lavender stuffed animal- great for any age. The scent of lavender soothes and relaxes.

Lavender diffuser- the scent of lavender wafts through the air.

Lavender neckpillow, heatwrap or spa mask- heat for extra aromatherapy.

SONOMA LAVENDER FESTIVAL

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Thu, 12 May 2011 01:54:00 +0000

For immediate release:

Contact: shelli@sonomalavender.com

707-523-4411 ext 2#

Photos available.

Eleventh annual Sonoma Lavender Festival

Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26

Tiny green bushes will soon push purple stalks to the sky in preparation for the eleventh annual Sonoma Lavender Festival, Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, in Kenwood, California. This annual festival features a five acre lavender farm in full bloom. Lavender lovers can wander the fields and cut fresh bouquets from the three types of lavender grown there, as well as study the 32 varieties grown in the specimen garden.

The hundreds of ways to use Lavender are explored at the festival with free seminars. Robert Kourik, master gardener and author of The Lavender Garden will speak on Growing Lavender. Mary Bergin, executive chef of Sur La Table and cookbook author, will provide a lavender cooking demonstration and tasting. Gary Erwin of Silveyville farms will discuss beekeeping and honey production. Sonoma Lavender owners, Gary and Rebecca Rosenberg will give hourly seminars on the Benefits of Lavender and Lavender Style.

Lavender cuisine by Lisa Hemmenway of FRESH! and wines by Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood Winery and BR Cohn will be available for purchase in a new olive grove. Profits will support the Education for the Arts program at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts subsidizing performances for 30,000 children a year.

The Lavender Marketplace is expanding to provide free services to experience lavender products. Hundreds of lavender products, which sell in 4,000 boutiques and spas across the country, will be 20-60% off for the festival only: lavender plants, bath and body products, diffusers, candles, lavender gifts, pillows, sachets, hot/cold therapy wraps and more. New additions include the BUBBLE ROOM with free moisturizing hand treatments and serving “bubbly”, CHILL-OUT LOUNGE with chilled body wraps, EUCALYPTUS GROOVE to invigorate mind and body. Also new is the PASSPORT TO BLISS. Collect stamps for a free lavender gift. Other activities: Massage Envy massages, Portraits by Rebecca Gosselin, Paintings by Barbara Greensweig, Face painting and Purple Nails by Beauty Sanctuary, and a crafting tent featuring wreath making, lavender wands and crafts.

$5 per person/ Children under 12 free. Sonoma Lavender Barn is located at 8537 Sonoma Highway (Hwy 12), Kenwood, CA. Turn East at Chateau St. Jean winery and follow the signs. http: www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html or 707-523-4411 ext 2#

Why bathe in lavender?

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:13:00 +0000

When you are feeling tired or your muscles are achy, try soaking in a sea salt bath infused with lavender essential oil. Sea salt will loosen tight muscles and draw the toxins from your body, which build up when your muscles are sore. Sea salt also helps reduce pain and infection. Lavender essential oil relaxes the muscles and helps them release the pent up strain. Both lavender and sea salt are known for healthy rejuvenation of the cells.

A lavender sea salt bath can help relax your muscles, reduce inflammation, minimize pain, heal bruising, aid digestion, relieve stress and tension, and detoxify your body.

LAVENDER BATH SALT RECIPE

20 drops of lavender essential oil

1/2 cup Epsom salt

1/2 cup sea salt

Mix together and add while running a very warm bath.

Optional additions:

5 drops of eucalyptus oil to invigorate muscles, or 5 drops of orange to elevate your mood.

Do you have any lavender beauty recipes to share?

Purchase Sonoma Lavender Bath Salts

http://sonomalavendershop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68&products_id=547

Lift your mood with lavender.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:21:00 +0000

According to researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine, USA, aromatherapy can have a significant affect on your brain (EEG) activity, our sense of alertness, and our moods.

Forty adults were given just three minutes of aromatherapy using lavender essential oil (considered a relaxing odor). The participants were given simple math computations before and after the therapy. The participants showed increased beta power, suggesting increased drowsiness; they had less depressed moods, reported feeling more relaxed and performed the math computations faster and more accurately following the aromatherapy.

Int J Neurosci, 96: 217-24, 1998 Dec Aromatherapy Positively Affects Mood, EEG Patterns of Alertness and Math Computations, Diego MA

Need a lift? Try these special touches and feel the difference they make.

Rub your temples with a drop of Sonoma Lavender Essential Oil.

Spray your office chair with Sonoma Lavender Spray Mist.

Moisturize your hands, arms and legs with Sonoma Lavender Body Lotion.

Squeeze a beautiful lavender sachet and inhale the deeply refreshing scent of lavender flower buds and feel anxiety lifting from your shoulders.

Do you have a story about lavender lifting your mood? Please share it with us!

Lavender is Lucky

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:55:00 +0000

“… there are some things I know for certain…plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.”
Practical Magic (1998)

On Saint Patrick’s Day every year, I think about luck. About how we make our own luck with the choices we make. One thing I know for certain, Lavender is Lucky.

I’m a strong believer that we make our own luck in this world, and we can use all the help we can get. That’s where lavender comes in.

How is it lucky?

The smell of lavender enters the nose and permeates the brain, immediately elevating your mood. When you meet the world in a good mood, doors open, people smile back at you, new opportunities abound.

Recent medical research has proven what tradition and experience has said for centuries. Lavender reduces anxiety. Lavender improves one’s mood. And Lavender is anti-conflict.

It’s easy to bring a little lavender luck into your life.

Tuck a lavender sachet in your car, for a soothing ride home.
Take a ten minute break with a lavender filled sleepmask.
End your day with a lavender bubble bath.

Now that would be lucky.

For more information regarding the research about lavender’s beneficial affects, see Current Lavender Research, or Sciencedirect.com

Photo by Rebecca Gosselin http://celebrations.rebeccagosselin.com/

Lavender Festival 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Rosenberg) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:24:00 +0000

Enjoy the fleeting beauty of the lavender fields, in bloom only once a year! Saturday & Sunday, June 25 & 26, 2011 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm ... Sonoma Lavender Food & Wine Festival